The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-05-25
Burying His Five Sons.

A Lycoming county farmer, blessed
by the possession of broad acres and
fat cattle, and a fatter cash account,
gave his five sons-more precious than
all else beside-that the Union might be
preserved. His name was Rankin. His
wife was dead and his boys were his
only solace, but when the war against
his country was declared he felt as did
Volumnia, the mother of Coriolanus,
when she said: Had | dozen sons,
each in my love alike, had rather have
eleven die nobly for their country than
one voluptiously surfeit out of action"
So the Rankin boys went to confront
grim-visaged war. The life-blood of
two of them made more fertile the rank
growth of the Peninsula and their
bodies lay unclaimed amid the thou
sands who had gone down in the shock
of battle. The bowed but not broken
father came to the governors office in
Harrisburg with his tale of woe. An
drew Curtin never turned deaf ear to
such as he. He said: You are too
old man to go after your sons bodies.
l will send a messenger for them, and
you can rest assured that you will be
enabled to give them burial" And
this was done. After the second battle
of Manassas the aged father again en-
tered the executive chamber and, with
out saying a word, seated himself. The
governor recognized him at once, and
thought, X" Can it be that this old man
has been afflicted again?" He babe
him approach. The VISITORS voice was
broken, but his tears did not fall as he
said: Governor, another of them has
gone" For a moment Mr.. Curtin
could not speak. He silently wrung
the horny hand of the despoiled father.
When he found voice he said: " You
must not 60 l will send for him. You
shall see him again" And this was
done. When news of the battle of
Gettysburg reached Harrisburg Gov
ernor Curtin travelled rapidly across
country and viewed that memorable
conflict. After its conclusion he re-
turned to Harrisburg and was seated
late at night in his room, when again
Rankin entered without a word and ST.
lently seated himself upon a chair.
"My God, )" thought Mr.. Curtin, -" it can
not be that the blow has fallen upon this
old man again" He could not bring
himself to ask the question, and for
fully fifteen minutes the two men sat
in their room, their heads upon their
hands, and neither uttered word. At
last the old man said, as he steadied his
voice: " Governor, the other two are
gone" "The other two? This is ter
rible." Yes, governor, the other
two. They have taken them ALL" He
wished pass to enter the lines that he
might take home his silent sons. g You
are too DID," said the anguished gov
ernor. " | will send for them and they
shall be taken home" And this was
done. After Governor Curtin had re-
turned to this country, at the close of his
five years residence at the court of Rus
STA, he was in Philadelphia. when it was
intimated to him that Mr. Rankin, who
was still alive, would be highly de-
lighted if his benefactor would pay
him visit when the eX-minister was
on his way to his home in Center
county. Mr.. Curtin said that he would
comply with the wish, and when he
reached the railroad station nearest to
the Lycoming county farmers home
he found the old man waiting for him
with carriage. That evening the peo-
pie of the surrounding country, at Mr..
ltulihil ioIhSu w wv IOhOl
to the ex-governor. The next morning,
after partaking of a breakfast such as
only Pennsylvania farmhouse can
produce, the aged agriculturist invited
Mr.. Curtin to join him in walk He
led the way to wooded knoll near the
house, and atop which was a beauti-
fully-sodded Enclosure, surrounded by
an iron railing. Within it were five
mounds and five head-stones. The old
man pointed toward them and simply
said: Governor, there they lie." Both
men bowed their heads and neither
uttered a word. In few moments
Rankin turned away with CHEEKY re-
mark about the surrounding country,
and from that moment during the two
days festivities that succeeded Mr..
Curtin's arrival the desolate father
never again referred to his sleeping
sons.-Philadelphia NeCS.